Trust in Your Journey

I am going to see a keynote speaker Amanda Lindhout tomorrow night and am attending her workshop Friday at the St. Boniface Cathedral hosted by The Catholic Health Association of Manitoba.

Her story is incredible.  She was capture traveling as a journalist in Somalia in 2008 and held hostage for 460 days.  She escaped and soon after wrote a book called A House in the Sky.  The event is about "Freedom in Forgiveness" which is an area that I continue to work on as it can be a struggle for me.  For someone who endured so much and to find forgiveness is all inspiring.  I guess if I can take anything from this, is that you need to trust in your journey.

Trust in my journey. ...how powerful.  Since I have started this crazy journey back to painting lots of new and exciting things has happened over this past year.  My first juried show, my first exhibition, and my first sale.....that wasn't by family or friends.  Now I have an opportunity for representation with a gallery based out of New York.  So hopefully in the next week or so I can add gallery representation to my list of firsts.

I will keep everyone posted!

Trip to the Prairies

Thursday I took a trip to Virden Manitoba for work which was the home of my grandparents on my dad side.  Even though it has changed drastically since I was a teenager, it still feels like home.  I ended up driving by their retirement home and it really hasn't changed other than the huge garden and flowers are gone but the well was still there.  It was cute, there was a little boy peeking out of the front screened door which I know my grandparents would be giggling.  My Grandpa Kucheravy loved kids.

I don't know what it is about the prairies but the drastic change in weather can be spectacular!  I was lucky to catch this storm system as I was heading to Virden.  I will be definitely painting all for my February showing.

Enjoy!

I don't know what it is but when I see a rainbow I always think of my
Grandpa Robertson.  Thank you Grandpa. 

Old barn and house in a field of wheat.

I thought this photo was really cool as beyond the wheat field was a
Provincial Park.  Wheat is ready to be harvested.

Just on the outskirts of the storm on the Trans Canada Highway just
after Portage La Prairie.  The clouds were amazing with its soft swirls.  

Opportunities

When I was in Wasagaming prior to my showing, I had approached Pour Michael's Emporium to display some pieces and I am excited to let everyone know that they are.  The owner went through my website and reviewed my remaining pieces after my show and agreed on three pieces, which are;

"View from Scotia", 6"x24" Acrylic and Ink on Canvas

"Road Trip 2", 6"x24" Acrylic on Canvas

"Shoal Lake 2", 6"x24" Acrylic and Ink on Canvas

Lessons Learned, Life After a Showing

Well it was a great experience overall.  There was allot of positive feedback on all my work and I sold three pieces total which is pretty good.  I will be updating my website this week.

What I learned from this show is as follows:

1. Be clear and follow up with emails so all parties are on the same page. It is still a business.
2. Make sure you inquire about who is showing your work and their reputation prior to committing.
3. Be open to what the public has to say.  In my case the pieces that had the most interest was the landscapes and water scenes.  
4. What shocked me was what I thought where the weaker pieces turned out to be peoples favorites.....therefore art is in the eye of the beholder.
5. Keep promoting, other opportunities do happen with hard work and no gallery can take a commission on that.

So, even though there were some bumps along the way, I did learn allot!